Your article, “Gen X Goes to Washington” (November 26, 2010) was great. I’m glad this topic is finally being discussed. The reality is that Generation X — being more relational, the first to get the Internet and home computer, and birthed in pragmatism — has always been involved in our culture. We have the highest educational levels of those generations before us, and most likely those after for the foreseeable future. We are very innovative and understand that we cannot live by myths or ideals. We are unwilling to lay hold of old narratives — ours is one of authenticity, that hope and change are the real nature of strengthening family, county, and economy.
One could say that Sarah Palin was the first to fire a shot at the old way of doing things, but Barack Obama also knew that those under 50 did not speak the same language as those over 50 — we have the past in remembrance but the future in view.
We don’t seek the same affirmation as Boomers, who are so in denial about what they actually did not accomplish. It is amazing to me they are unable to move forward and accept their expiration date. Facts are facts — each year you will see how unreal the Boomer legacy was, other than abortion and divorce.

Martin Cline
Seattle/Tacoma, WA

Good people, broken systemYour Talking Politics story on patronage at the Massachusetts Probation Department (“Double-Secret Probation,” December 24, 2010) shows precisely why the commonwealth needs to close the door on proposals to expand predatory gambling. The culture on Beacon Hill is incapable of objective analysis and transparency. It is painful to know that there are so many good people trying to make a difference in a broken system.